Supporting palliative care in Scotland

What is PATCH?

Patch is the first charity specifically to support 24/7 specialist palliative care for patients in Scottish hospitals. We will do this by funding hospitals to provide resources such as dedicated beds, staff, advisory services and research.

Most hospitals have access to specialist palliative care for only 25% of the week, namely Monday to Friday 9am–5pm.

It is not, at present, obligatory for hospitals to have specialist palliative care available on site 24/7. [1]

Imagine how much better patient care would be if all patients had skilled, specialist palliative care available twenty four hours a day, seven days a week. That’s what we aim to do.

What does PATCH offer?

PATCH offers funding to hospitals to develop a palliative care service appropriate for their own hospital.

Specialist palliative care staff.

Specialist beds.

Skills to talk to patients, families and staff about dying.

Time to listen to the concerns of patients and families.

Skilled symptom control.

Close links with the community.

Careful planning of future care.

Inspiration

PATCH was inspired by the model of care developed in the Acute Palliative Care Unit in Ninewells Hospital, Dundee. This model of care was started by a charitable donation to Tayside NHS Endowment Fund and is now funded by NHS Tayside.